College Football Week 1: Top 5 Games—Previews & Predictions

Well, its finally here.  As the summer draws to a close, college football fans are ready for for the 2008 season to get underway, and I ask,  can it get any better than this?  Enough talk radio, enough ESPN college football previews, enough pre-season magazines, from Phil Steele to Lindy's to Athlon, it is time to kick it off, and it can't get here soon enough!  Here's a look at five of the opening weekend's most intriguing contests.

1. No. 20 Illinois v. No. 6 Missouri—(Saint Louis)  This top 25 match up is headlined by two extremely talented signal callers in Heisman hopeful Chase Daniel and All-Big Ten candidate Juice Williams. 

Missouri returns 14 total starters, including sophomore sensation wideout Jeremy Maclin, who will once again be a favorite target of Daniel.  The loss of Rashard Mendenhall will prove to be huge for Ron Zook's offensive squad. 

Sophomore Arrelious Benn will need to emerge as a consistent playmaker for the Fighting Illini if they plan to duplicate their nine-win season and Rose Bowl appearance from a year ago. 

Illinois lost key talent on the defensive side of the football, which, in turn, will bode well for a versatile Missouri offense that allowed Daniel to tally 37 total touchdowns and more than 4,500 total yards in 2007. 

The leadership, experience and play-making ability of Daniel will prove to be the difference in this early season battle.  PREDICTION:  Missouri 34 Illinois 20. 

2. No. 24 Alabama v. No. 9 Clemson—(Atlanta)  This SEC/ACC clash pits two of the most tradition-rich programs in the South.  Tommy Bowden's Tigers are predicted by most to be the clear front runner in the ACC, and predicted by many to be a dark horse candidate to play in the BCS title game. 

The Tigers' offensive unit has the potential to be explosive, anchored by Cullen Harper at quarterback and star running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller.  The Crimson Tide will be led on offense by senior quarterback John Parker Wilson and talented sophomore running back Terry Grant. 

The key to this game will be how Nick Saban's young, inexperienced defense handles the one-two punch of Davis and Spiller on the ground and Harper's playmaking ability through the air.  In the end, Bama's defense will not have enough answers.  PREDICTION:  Clemson 31 Alabama 23.   

3. No. 18 Tennessee v. UCLA—UCLA has been decimated offensively by numerous pre-season injuries.  Quarterbacks Patrick Cowan and Ben Olson are out, leaving junior college transfer Kevin Craft under center. 

New head coach Rick Neuheisal and successful offensive coordinator Norm Chow may have to wait a year before truly being able to put the type of offense on the field that they want; thus, the Bruins will be dependent upon a solid defensive unit led by defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker. 

The Vols also have a new offensive coordinator in Dave Clawson, and a new quarterback in junior Jonathan Crompton.  However, Crompton is surrounded by several proven commodities on offense, including 1,000 yard receiver Lucas Taylor and running back Arian Foster, who is on pace to become UT's all-time leading rusher. 

Keep an eye on sophomore wideout Gerald Jones and a skilled secondary led by safeties Eric Berry and Demetrice Morely.  PREDICTION:  Tennessee 31 UCLA 17.

4. No. 3 Southern Cal v. Virginia—Quarterback Mark Sanchez has officially been cleared to play after injuring his knee in pre-season camp.  The Trojans have once again reloaded and are strong at every position. 

UVA returns 11 total starters from a 9-4 football team.  USC simply has too much for the Cavs.  Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing will lead a defensive unit that will shut down UVA in Charlottesville.  PREDICTION USC 38 UVA 14. 

5. No. 17 Virginia Tech v. East Carolina—(Charlotte) UPSET ALERT!!  Skip Holtz has put together a brutal non-conference schedule for the Pirates, including this opener with the Hokies.  ECU won eight games last season and seem to be headed in the right direction. 

The Hokies named Sean Glennon as the starting quarterback earlier this week, and decided to red-shirt talented sophomore Tyrod Taylor.  Shaky offensive line play in 2007, the loss of talent to the NFL, including its top receivers, and the loss of running back Brandon Ore could amount to a tough season for the Hokies.  PREDICTION:  ECU 24 Virginia Tech 21.

Others to watch: 

• Appalachian State v. No. 7 LSU—Appalachian State pulled off the miracle upset in the Big House over Michigan last season.  This is a talented, well coached team.  But, despite question marks at quarterback, the defending BCS champs will dominate.  PREDICTION:  LSU 41 Appalachian State 17.
• N.C. State v. South Carolina—An undermanned Wolfpack squad will be handled by one of the most talented defenses in the SEC.  Tommy Beecher was named the starting quarterback for the Gamecocks, and, if history tells us anything, don't be surprised if Coach Spurrier shakes things up at the position if things don't go smoothly.  PREDICTION:  South Carolina 17 N.C. State 6.
• Georgia Southern v. No. 1 Georgia—Georgia Southern defeated Appalachian State last season—and, we all know how good Appalachian State was.  However, Georgia has way too much.  Knowshon Moreno will steam roll Georgia Southern as the Bulldogs will hold on to the number one spot.  PREDICTION:  Georgia 41 Georgia Southern 20.
• Utah v. Michigan—Rich Rodriguez will try to have a quarterback ready to run his spread offense for the season opener against the Utes - but, at this point, even Rodriguez isn't sure who that will be.  Utah is favored by most to win the Mountain West.  The home opener for Rodriguez could be a rough one.  PREDICTION:  Michigan 20 Utah 17.
• Washington v. No. 21 Oregon—A PAC-10 clash to begin the season.  Ty Willingham's crew may be hard-pressed to equal last season's four win total.  Oregon may very well be the second best team in the PAC-10 behind USC.  Jeremiah Johnson will lead the offensive attack, which will prove to be too much for a Huskie defense that lost five starters and allowed 465 rushing yards to the Ducks last season.  PREDICTION:  Oregon 34 Washington 20.
• Hawaii v. No. 5 Florida—Applaud Hawaii for going out and scheduling an SEC power to open the season.  However, the trip to Gainesville will only be pleasant for the Hawaii athletic department budget.  Tim Tebow and the Gators will roll to victory.  PREDICTION:  Florida 48 Hawaii 17.